Improvement in telegraph apparatus



H. 0. iIIGHOLSON. TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

No. 112,836. Patented Mar. 21, 1871 Fig. 2.

drawings, making a the use of less time and less number of strokes can be communicated through each line sepa- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.1 [2,836,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, HENRY O. NIonoLsoN, of MountW'ashin gton, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented an Improved Double Line Telegraph and System of Alph abetic Signals,- and I hereby declare the following to be a sufllciently full, clear, and exact description thereof to enable one skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use it, referencebeing had to the accompanying.

part of this specification. My invention consists of a certain peculiar combination and arrangement of two magnets, levers, and printingpins controlled by two separateand distinct lines and keys for the purpose ofcommunicatin g a simultaneous, though separate and distinct, double line of signals, which are delivered with such relation to each other that a'telegraphic alphabet is formed by than is possible and without the signals. My invention further consists of a telegraphic alphabet specially adapted to be used in con-- nection with the peculiar arrangement of lines and keys described in the preceding clause.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view, showing the arrangement of the instruments at one end of thetwo lines. Fig. 2 illustrates mydouble line of signals for alphabet, numerals, 85c, The apparatus I use is simply a double line complete in every particular, each line arranged to operate wholly independent of the other, except in the printing of the signals, when. both join to produce asignal-tape with two rows of characters, the printing-pins A'A being placed in close proximity, as shown. The keys B B are placed so close together that the fingers of the operator .can slipfrom one to the other in forming the signals, and, as thelines are independent, a dot can be communicated through one line and a dash through the other at one and the same time, or a dash through each line at the same time. If the signals are read by sound'and not printed itwill simply be necessary to subdue the sound of one of the instruments, and the difierence in sound of the two lines will enable the operator to read both signals together. By this arrangement signals by any other known'method. possibility of aconfusion of rately or both lines together, at will.

vThe signals are formed bydots and dashes in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the letter A right key,

described in the being indicated bv two dots, one on each line.

dated March 21, 1871.

at the same time; E, by one dot on the righthand line I, by one dot on the left-hand line; other letters by dashes in the same manner and of various lengths, and still others by striking both keys together and removing one finger quicker than the other, thus producing a dot and dash, or a short dash and long dash together. Some of these'signals are produced by a rolling motion of the two fingers over the keys from left to right or right to left-as, for example, the W is produced by rolling the index and middle fingers from right to left over both keys." To make Y, roll the index and middle fingers from left to righ t over both keys;

To make D, place the middle finger on. the strike the othersnddenly with the index finger, and elevate both at the same time.' L is made in the reverse way to D.

The advantage of this double line of signals is that less strokes are needed to produce the letters, and they can be put together as fast as they can be made without danger of confu-- sion. Consequently no time is lost in giving space to signals as in all the old systems.

I am aware that in Stochrers double-style apparatus, described 'in Sabines Treatise on the Electric Telegraph, two electro-magnets with separate printing-beams acting upon the same strip 4 of paper are "employed. In the above apparatus only a single local battery, directed to the one or other electro-magnet by a relay, is used, so that the printing-beams can actalternatelyonly, whereas I. employ two batteries and two separate lines and two, independent keys, so that the printing-beams can act simultaneously as .well as alternately.

I am also aware of the double-line alphabet above treatise in connection with Stochrersdouble-s'tyle apparatus, and do not therefore claim, broadly, such a system of signals.

I claim- 1. The relative arrangement of the doubleline telegraph herein described, for-the purpose of-communicating a double line of signals simultaneously or separately, at will, the signals being united by sound or printing'to produce a single message. I

2. The arrangement of the dots and dashes in the double-line alphabet, figures, &c., as described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

Witnesses: H. (J. NICHOLSON.

J. L. WARTMANN, FRANK -MILLWARD. 

